If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

World's sixth-ranked badminton player attributes her rapid rise to fitness

By Gautam Bhattacharyya, Deputy Sports Editor

Published: 00:00 June 23, 2010

Saina Nehwal of India returns to Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan during the women’s singles final at the Singapore Open Badminton Super Series last Sunday. Nehwal won the match 21-18, 21-15.

Image Credit: AP

Dubai: She may have just won two back-to-back titles, one of them the second Super Series title of her career, but Saina Nehwal is not the kind of sportswoman who rests on her laurels.
Currently ranked number six in the world, the 20-year-old is now poised for a leap at the top spot — but refuses to put a date to it.
"Yes, that's my goal and I want to give my 100 per cent towards it," Nehwal told Gulf News after winning the Singapore Open on Sunday.
Coming on the heels of her triumph in the Indian Open Grand Prix, the singleminded Nehwal continued on her hot streak in Singapore — scalping world champion Lu Lan of China in the semifinal before beating qualifier Tzu Ying Tai of Chinese Taipei for the title.
The Indonesian Open, which starts today, is her next target.Remarkable progress
Earlier in March, the spunky Nehwal had achieved her highest ranking of number five before slipping a spot — but she said she didn't want to get bogged down too much by the business of rankings.
"My goal has been to always work harder and do better … I did not ever bother much about the rankings," she said.
Nehwal's progress has been remarkable since the sportswoman captured the imagination of the Indians by becoming the first Indian woman to make the quarter finals of Olympics in 2008.
This year has seen Nehwal ride the crest of a wave, starting with being chosen as the NDTV Indian Sportsperson of the Year ahead of the likes of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Viswanathan Anand and Leander Paes.
"Yes, it's been one of my best years on the circuit but I think my best is yet to come," Nehwal replied.
Her answers in interview revealed her personality: simple, no-nonsense and focused.International title
Nehwal said it has been the improvement in her fitness which had made the difference to her campaigns this year.
Looking back, she said: "Firstly, I was quite relieved to win an international title at home but I want to win more such titles."
"In Singapore, I beat Lu in the semifinals and hence I have now beaten her twice within a year. It is a morale booster and should help me," Nehwal said.
As someone who takes enormous pride in representing her country, Nehwal said she was keenly looking forward to the multi-discipline events this year — the Commonwealth Games and then the Asian Games.
"I want to do better in the coming events," she said.
There is no doubt that Nehwal is the most happening sportswoman of her country at the moment — notwithstanding the return of Sania Mirza on the circuit.
However, she indicated that she wanted to wear that status lightly: "I feel elated and proud at all the love and affection of the people".
"However, I don't see myself as an icon but only a badminton player of India," she said.Factfile

Date of birth: March 17, 1990

Place of birth: Hisar, Haryana, India

Height: 5ft 5in (1.65 metres)

Weight: 60kg (130 lb)

Country: India

Handedness: Right

Coach: Pullela Gopichand

Women's singles:

Highest ranking: 5

Current ranking: 6

Do you think Saina is the most happening female sports star in India right now? Can she make it to the number one spot this season?

World's sixth-ranked badminton player attributes her rapid rise to fitness

By Gautam Bhattacharyya, Deputy Sports Editor

Published: 00:00 June 23, 2010

Saina Nehwal of India returns to Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan during the womens singles final at the Singapore Open Badminton Super Series last Sunday. Nehwal won the match 21-18, 21-15.

Image Credit: AP

Dubai: She may have just won two back-to-back titles, one of them the second Super Series title of her career, but Saina Nehwal is not the kind of sportswoman who rests on her laurels.
Currently ranked number six in the world, the 20-year-old is now poised for a leap at the top spot  but refuses to put a date to it.
"Yes, that's my goal and I want to give my 100 per cent towards it," Nehwal told Gulf News after winning the Singapore Open on Sunday.
Coming on the heels of her triumph in the Indian Open Grand Prix, the singleminded Nehwal continued on her hot streak in Singapore  scalping world champion Lu Lan of China in the semifinal before beating qualifier Tzu Ying Tai of Chinese Taipei for the title.
The Indonesian Open, which starts today, is her next target.Remarkable progress
Earlier in March, the spunky Nehwal had achieved her highest ranking of number five before slipping a spot  but she said she didn't want to get bogged down too much by the business of rankings.
"My goal has been to always work harder and do better I did not ever bother much about the rankings," she said.
Nehwal's progress has been remarkable since the sportswoman captured the imagination of the Indians by becoming the first Indian woman to make the quarter finals of Olympics in 2008.
This year has seen Nehwal ride the crest of a wave, starting with being chosen as the NDTV Indian Sportsperson of the Year ahead of the likes of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Viswanathan Anand and Leander Paes.
"Yes, it's been one of my best years on the circuit but I think my best is yet to come," Nehwal replied.
Her answers in interview revealed her personality: simple, no-nonsense and focused.International title
Nehwal said it has been the improvement in her fitness which had made the difference to her campaigns this year.
Looking back, she said: "Firstly, I was quite relieved to win an international title at home but I want to win more such titles."
"In Singapore, I beat Lu in the semifinals and hence I have now beaten her twice within a year. It is a morale booster and should help me," Nehwal said.
As someone who takes enormous pride in representing her country, Nehwal said she was keenly looking forward to the multi-discipline events this year  the Commonwealth Games and then the Asian Games.
"I want to do better in the coming events," she said.
There is no doubt that Nehwal is the most happening sportswoman of her country at the moment  notwithstanding the return of Sania Mirza on the circuit.
However, she indicated that she wanted to wear that status lightly: "I feel elated and proud at all the love and affection of the people".
"However, I don't see myself as an icon but only a badminton player of India," she said.Factfile

Date of birth: March 17, 1990

Place of birth: Hisar, Haryana, India

Height: 5ft 5in (1.65 metres)

Weight: 60kg (130 lb)

Country: India

Handedness: Right

Coach: Pullela Gopichand

Women's singles:

Highest ranking: 5

Current ranking: 6

Do you think Saina is the most happening female sports star in India right now? Can she make it to the number one spot this season?

imo, she can make it to the top spot this season/yr (only 14,000 pts behind) if she keeps playing in more tourneys and finishing near the top (finishes around Semis Rd. as avg), just like how LCW has been doing it..and to do that, it'll go back to her new found key: her improved fitness..

Was hoping that Saina Nehwal would participate in our 2010 Australian Open GP

Originally Posted by ctjcad

imo, she can make it to the top spot this season/yr (only 14,000 pts behind) if she keeps playing in more tourneys and finishing near the top (finishes around Semis Rd. as avg), just like how LCW has been doing it..and to do that, it'll go back to her new found key: her improved fitness..

.
Was hoping that Saina Nehwal would participate in our 2010 Australian Open GP.

I pick Saina Nehwal to win the DIO Super Series 2010 WS title.
If she does, it will be back to back to back wins in three consecutive tournaments (hattrick), a feat last achieved by Wang Yihan of China.

I pick Saina Nehwal to win the DIO Super Series 2010 WS title.
If she does, it will be back to back to back wins in three consecutive tournaments (hattrick), a feat last achieved by Wang Yihan of China.

Saina really took advantage of the absence of a few top WS players, incl. those CHN's top players (although she beat a couple of CHN players in the S'pore Open) in the 3 consecutive tourneys..Time for her to go back, take a brief rest and start preparing for the WC (abt 2 months away)...Let's see if she can make another surprise in the upcoming WC..

Heady welcome for champion Saina

The Times of India
TNN, Jun 30, 2010, 02.47am IST

M Ratnakar,

HYDERABAD: Hundreds of sports lovers, several badminton players and sports administrators gathered at the Shamshabad airport at the break of dawn on Tuesday to receive Saina Nehwal who was returning home after accomplishing the rare feat of winning three back-to-back titles on the international circuit.

Drum beats reverberated through the airport much before Saina arrived and once she was sighted, there was an incessant rain of flowers from everywhere before she was brought to the city in a motorcade.

Saina seemed so thrilled at the reception that the normally shy player acknowledged the cheering fans without any inhibition, showing off her medals, accepting garlands and blowing kisses.

"I am proud to be an Indian sportswoman," Saina later said at a press conference held at her mentor, P Gopichand’s academy.

Though she insisted that she is not thinking too much about achieving the No. 1 world rank, Saina hinted that she has it in her to reach the summit. "If I can become No. 3, I can also become No. 1," she said refusing, however, to dwell more on the subject, by saying "At the moment, I still cannot believe that I’m No.3."

The protege thanked "Gopi Sir" whom she credited with creating a worldbeater out of her. "It’s only because of him I’m where I’m today," she said. Saina also thanked coach Bhaskar Babu, who accompanied her to all three tournaments. "The tactical advise of Bhaskar Sir was of great help. He also helped to study the game of opponents," she acknowledged. Incidentally, Bhaskar Babu was at hand even when she won her first major international title in the Philippines in 2006.

Saina reiterated that while her immediate goals were to do well at the Worlds, Commonwealth and Asian Games, her dream is to win a medal at the London Olympics. "My focus from now on is to stay injury-free and work on my fitness. If I can do that I think I have a chance to realise my dream."

Saina felt that areas of her game which needed improvement were the backhand and defence. "I need to work on these aspects. Basically, I am an attacking player but to do well at the international level I need to improve my defence."

Saina is aware of the difficulties in sustaining her ranking and feels that the answer lies in proper planning. "I know it is very tough to stay at the top, but careful selection of tournaments so that there is enough time for rest, rehabilitation and training, will give me better results. Anyway, my coach will take care of that," she said.

HBA announces cash award for Saina Nehwal

PTI, Jun 29, 2010, 09.05pm IST

JHAJJAR: Haryana Badminton Association (HBA) has announced a cash award of Rs 5 lakh for Hisar-born Saina Nehwal for her title triumph in the Indonesia Super Series this Sunday.

Decision to this effect was taken at an annual general body meeting of the association, held under the chairmanship of its president Devinder Singh, at Sewa Bhawan in Delhi.

"Saina has brought glory to the state and the country by winning the Indonesian Open Super Series title," said Manoj Sharma, Secretary of Jhajjar unit of the association.

Manjeet Singh, senior vice-president of the association, said, "Saina has become a role model for millions of Indian girls."

Saina recently rounded a hat-trick of international titles by defending Indonesian Open Super Series trophy in Jakarta.

Before winning in Jakarta, which was the 20-year-old's third Super Series title overall, Saina had won the Indian Open Grand Prix at home and the Singapore Open Super Series.

Meanwhile, the association, at its meeting, has also decided to organise 75th Senior National Badminton Championship from January 2 to 10 next year on the campus of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak.

"Four high standard courts will be prepared for efficient and smooth conduct of the championship and players from all over India would be invited to take part in it," said the secretary, adding it would be the first time that the national championship would be organised in Haryana.

PM congratulates Saina for Indonesia Open Super Series win

PTI, Jun 27, 2010, 07.51pm IST

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday congratulated badminton sensation Saina Nehwal for winning the Indonesian Open Super Series at Jakarta, her third international title on a row.

"Saina has shown spirit, determination and skill in winning the championship, her third major international title in three weeks," Singh said.

The Prime Minister also said that Saina has done the country proud and is a role model for the youth.

World number three Saina, seeded top in the tournament as defending champion, defeated unseeded Sayaka Sato of Japan 21-19 13-21 21-11 to clinch the Indonesian Open, which is her third title in as many weeks.

The Hyderabadi had won the Indian Open Grand Prix Gold in Chennai, before triumphing the Singapore Open Super Series last week, which saw her reach career best ranking of world number three.

I can become world number one: Saina

PTI, Jun 29, 2010, 11.41am IST

HYDERABAD: After notching up an incredible hat-trick of international titles, ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal on Tuesday said she is confident of becoming the world's number one player soon.

Saina, who rounded a hat-trick of titles by defending her Indonesia Open Super Series trophy in Jakarta, said she would now have to work harder to improve her ranking from number three to one.

"Now it is important for me to work harder and win the next international events rather than concentrating on the ranking. If I can become number three, then I can also become number one," Saina said at a press conference.

"I enjoyed all the matches in the three tournaments. I was a little tired but was confident that I could do it. Finally I am happy that I have won three titles in a row. Now I want to win the upcoming tournaments," she added.

Before winning in Jakarta, which was the 20-year-old's third Super Series title overall, Saina had won the Indian Open Grand Prix at home and the Singapore Open Super Series Tournament.

"Last year it was tough for me to win the Indonesia Open and it was something special as it was my first Super Series title. But the recent one is special because I have won three tournaments in a row," said Saina.

Saina Nehwal is now No.3 in our BWF Womens Singles Ranking

"Saina has shown spirit, determination and skill in winning the championship, her third major international title in three weeks," Singh said.

The Prime Minister also said that Saina has done the country proud and is a role model for the youth.

World number three Saina, seeded top in the tournament as defending champion, defeated unseeded Sayaka Sato of Japan 21-19 13-21 21-11 to clinch the Indonesian Open, which is her third title in as many weeks.

.
It's great to find that Saina Nehwal is now World No.3 in our BWF Womens Singles Ranking.
.